Bracing structure



Sept. 19, i967 M. H. DOCKEN BRACING STRUCTURE Filed June ll, 1964 Sept i9, 1967 M. H. DocKEN 3,341,995

BRACING STRUCTURE Filed June ll, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Uitcd States Fatent 3,341,995 BRACING STRUCTURE Melford H. Docken, 415 Washington, Glencoe, Ill. 60022, assigner of one-half to Seymour Graham, Glencoe, Ill.

Filed June 11, 1964, Ser. No. 374,420 2 Claims. (Cl. 52-226) This invention relates to a bracing structure that is particularly adapted to reinforce structural members such as joists and beams to prevent the same from sagging or bending.

Any construction supported by an elongated structural member, such as a floor or roof joist or beam, is adversely affected by sagging of such member. Even if the sagging member does not collapse, its reinforcement may present a serious problem. The use of posts, columns or jacks to reinforce sagging joists or beams is generally unsatisfactory because of the difficulty and expense of installation. Additionally, such reinforcing members mar the appearance of the area in which they are installed, and may take up space that can be used more efficiently if the posts, columns and jacks are eliminated.

Bracing structures embodying the present invention may be applied easily to structural members to prevent sagging as well as to sagging structural members to lift the sagging portion and restore the member to its original straight condition. The bracing structure does not take up any floor space and is reasonably inconspicuous.

The invention is described in considerable detail in the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which form a part of the specification, and in which several exemplary embodiments are illustrated, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing a bracing structure embodying the invention as it is applied to a floor joist;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary View of a portion of the structure shown in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional View, taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view, similar to FIG. 2, showing a modified embodiment of the bracing structure;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view, taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view showing means for securing one end of the strap to the joist;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line 7--7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view, similar to FIG. 6, showing a modified structure for securing one end of the strap to the joist;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross sectional View showing another modification which is adjusted for various widths of the beam or joist to which the bracing structure is applied;

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line 10-10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. l1 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken along the line 11-1\1 of FIG. l0; and

FIG. l2 is a fragmentary elevational view of another modified bracing structure embodying the invention.

FIGURE 1 illustrates a typical construction wherein a joist 11 is supported at its ends by spaced support members, such as upright walls 12 and 13 in a conventional manner. As shown in FIG. 3, the joist 11 is a double joist comprised of two planks 14 and \15 arranged horizontally and in face to face relationship to take the load of the floor or roof above on the edges of the planks. It is understood of course that that double joist 11 is only illustrative and intended to represent one form of horizontal structural support beam or joist.

The bracing structure of this invention may be applied directly to the joist 11 or the system may be used with a short yboard 16, such as a two by four, for example, positioned longitudinally against the bottom of the joist so as to extend a short distance on each side of the longitudinal center of the joist 11. The width of the board 16 is preferably approximately equal to the combined thickness of the joist 11 and is arranged so that its edges are approximately flush with the sides of the joists.

Two straps 17, each having a length which is about half the length of the joisti11, are secured to each side of the joist near the support members. The exemplary straps shown are angle irons, but they may be of any desired structural shape such as round or square rods, etc. Elongated metal plates 18 are secured, as by welding, to the outer ends of the rods 17 and to the opposite sides of the joist by means of bolts or screws or nails 19.

As this far described, the support system of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 utilizes a set of four rods, one end of each of which is secured to a plate. The plates are fastened to the joist or beam near the outer ends thereof and at opposite sides thereof, and substantially above the bottom edge thereof. v

The fastening of the plates to the joist is done in such a manner that the rods all point toward the bottom center of the joist. At their inner ends, parallel opposed rods are secured to a pair of stirrups 20. The stirrups 20, preferably in the form of channels, are positioned adjacent the underside of the board 16 in longitudinally spaced relationship, each stirrup being spaced close to but substantially equally from the longitudinal center of the joist. Each stirrup has upstanding sides 21 which fit against the sides of the board 16 and the inner end portion of one of the straps 17 is welded to each of these sides, respectively. A flat metal bearing plate 22 may be interposed between the inner face of the bottom 23 of the stirrup and the bottom of the board 16 so that the stirrups can move longitudinally of the joist without biting into board 16.

Each stirrup 20 is provided With a tubular sleeve 24 that may be integral therewith or may be welded to the outer surface of its bottom 23. The tubular sleeves are axially aligned, and each sleeve is adapted to receive `a tie rod, in the form of a screw 25. The screw 25 extends through both tubular rsleeves and is provided with a nut 26 .threaded thereon adjacent the outer end of each sleeve.

With the elements of the device so assembled, sagging of the joist is eliminated by tightening the nuts 26 to force the stirrups 20 toward each other. Since each stirrup is welded to both straps 17 on its side of the center of the joist, the inner ends of the straps are forced toward each other. The inner ends of the straps tend to or actually move toward each other. The forces involved tend to cause the straps to move toward a straight line position aligned with the securing plates at the top of the joist. This causes the stirrups to move upwardly and carry the center of the joist upwardly to bring the joist into a straight line condition and to hold the joist in such position, thereby eliminating any sagging in the joist.

The lifting action described above depends upon the angularity of the straps 17. The inner ends of the stl-.aps can be brought closer together only by moving said straps angularly closer to a straight line position. The bracing structure shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 has an added mechanical advantage over some embodiments of the invention in that the angularity of the straps is increased by locating the stirrups below the board 16. Vector analysis of the forces involved will show that as the nuts are tightened on the screw, there is a Vertical force component that tends to lift the center of the system until the straps form straight lines between the securing plates. The bearing plate aids in this by permitting the stirrups to move toward each other and thereby permit the elective force center to .stay in a vertical line.

JIn the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, each stirrup 2'7 has a tubular sleeve 28 integral with or welded to each side 29. A screw 30 is threaded into the sleeves 2-8 on each side -of the joist. Each screw 30 has its ends 31 and 312 threaded in opposite directions and is turned by a nut 33 welded to its center section. The sleeves 28 each have a section 34 threaded to engage the threads of one end of screw 30. The sleeves 28 are flush with the bottom of stirrups 27 which tit around the bottom of the joist 35. The straps 17 are each welded at one end` to one of the stirrups and are secured to the joist in the same manner as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3. The signicant difference between the embodiment of FIG-S. 4 and 5 and the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3 is in the side mounting of the tubular sleeves. This difference is important in that it permits the installation of a plate, uninterrupted ceiling below the joist since there is nothing protruding downwardly.

FIG. 8 shows the strap in the form of a rod 36 that can be substituted for the angle iron 17. The strap 3-6 is provided with a ilat end 37 apertured to receive bolts 38 that extend through the joist 11 or 35. If desired, the hat end 37 of rod 36 can be Welded t-o a plate 18, as shown in FIG. 6.

The embodiment of F'IGS. 9 to ll is adjustable for use with joists of diiterent thickness. IIn this embodiment the strap 36 is used in connection with the joist 35, but it will be understood that either angle irons 17 or rods 36, and either joist 11 0r 35 may be used. In this embodiment, a stirrup 39 comprises two complementary sections 40 that are L-shaped in transverse cross section and are arranged with the bottom 41 one section seated on the corresponding bottom 42 of the other section. Both bottoms are uniformly recessed in transverse direction to provide alternate tongues 43 and grooves 44 that intert to prevent relative movement between bottoms 41 and 42 in a longitudinal direction parallel to said bottoms. The sections 40 are arranged with sides 45 spaced to receive the joist 3S therebetween. A strap 36 is welded to each side 45 at one end of the rod. The straps extend angularly relative to the ljoist; and the other end of each strap is secured to the joist as shown in FIG. 6 or 8.

Each bottom is provided with threaded recesses adapted -to register vertically with similar recesses in the other bottom, and screws 46 are threaded into said aligned recesses to hold the sections 40 together in any adjusted position. Bottom 42 has a tubular sleeve 47 integral therewith or welded thereto. A nut 48 is welded to the outer end of each tubular sleeve. The threads in nuts 48 are oppositely directed and a screw 30, as shown in FIG. 4, extends through both tubular sleeves 47 and is threaded through both nuts 48. As in FIG. 4, a nut 33 is welded to the center of the screw 30 between the oppositely threaded end sections.

In FIG. 12, a turnbuckle type of screw 49 is shown. The operation of screw 49 is the same as that of screw 30, except that the nut 33 welded to the center of screw 30 is replaced by an integral block S0 having apertures 51 extending therethrough so that a rod (not shown) may be inserted through one of the apertures 51 to senve as a handle for turning the screw 49 to draw the tubular sleeves 47 together. As in FIGS. 4-5 and 9-11, the threads on opposite ends of the screw 49 are oppositely directed. Each sleeve 52 is secured to a stirrup 53 and has a nut 54 welded to its outer end.

Although lI have described several embodiments of the invention in considera-ble detail, it will be understood that the description thereof is intended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, as many details of structure may be modied or changed without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to be restricted to the exact structure disclosed.

I claim:

"1. A bracing structure adapted to support the central port-ion of an elongated structural member against sagging, said bracing structure comprising two straps on each side of an elongated structural member, each of said straps on one side of said elongated structural member being located on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of said elongated structural member and extending angularly downwardly toward said longitudinal center, the outer end of eac-h of said straps being secured to said elongated structural member, the inner end of each of said straps terminating short of said longitudinal center, a stirrup rigidly secured to both straps on one side of said longitudinal center, a second stirrup rigidly secured to both straps on the other side of said longitudinal center, each of said s'tirrups being spaced from said longitudinal center and extending under the bottom of said elongated structural member, a tubular sleeve welded to each side of each of said stirrups, the lowermost portion of each of said .sleeves being flush with the bottom of said stirrups, a screw extending through the sleeves on each side of said stirrups, and means cooperating with each of said sleeves to move said stirrups longitudinally of said screws toward said longitudinal center to shorten the longitudinal distance between the inner ends of said straps, said longitudinal movement of said stirrups being effective to lift the inner ends of said straps and thereby move the central portion of said elongated structural member toward a straight line condition.

2. -A bracing structure adapted to support the central portion of an elongated structural member .against sagging, said bracing structure comprising two straps on each side of an elongated structural member, eac-h of said straps on one side of said elongated structural member being located on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of said elongated structural member and extending angularly downwardly toward said longitudinal center, the outer end of each of said straps being secured to said elongated structural member, the inner end of each of said straps terminating short of said longitudinal center, a channel of adjustable width rigidly secured to both straps on o-ne side of said longitudinal center, a second channel of adjustable width rigidly secured to both straps on the other side of said longitudinal center, means for holding each of said channels in any adjusted width, each of said channels being spaced from said longitudinal center and extending under the bottom of said elongated structural member, a screw operatively connected with both of said channels, and means cooperating with said screw to move said channels longitudinal-ly of said screw toward said longitudinal center to shorten the longitudinal distance between the inner ends of said straps, said longitudinal movement of said channels being effective to litt the inner ends of said straps and thereby lift the central portion of said elongated structural member upwardly toward a straight line condition.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,813,338 7/1931 Botel 52-226 2,161,337 6/1939 Cordoua 52-226 2,183,015 12/1939 {Foulds 52-629 2,318,396- 5/1943 Hoyt.

2,319,303 5 /1943 Crawford 42-6129 2,510,958 6/1950 Coif 52-2-25 2,856,644 10/ 1958 Dunham 52--291 JOHN E. MURTAGH, Primary Examiner.

R. A. STENZEL, C. G. MUELLER, Assistant Examiners. 

1. A BRACING STRUCTURE ADAPTED TO SUPPORT THE CENTRAL PORTION OF AN ELONGATED STRUCTURAL MEMBER AGAINST SAGGING, SAID BRACING STRUCTURE COMPRISING TWO STRAPS ON EACH SIDE OF AN ELONGATED STRUCTURAL MEMBER, EACH OF SAID STRAPS ON ONE SIDE OF SAID ELONGATED STRUCTURAL MEMBER BEING LOCATED ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE LONGITUDINAL CENTER OF SAID ELONGATED STRUCTURAL MEMBER AND EXTENDING ANGULARLY DOWNWARDLY TOWARD SAID LONGITUDINAL CENTER, THE OUTER END OF EACH OF SAID STRAPS BEING SECURED TO SAID ELONGATED STRUCTURAL MEMBER, THE INNER END OF EACH OF SAID STRAPS TERMINATING SHORT OF SAID LONGITUDINAL CENTER, A STIRRUP RIGIDLY SECURED TO BOTH STRAPS ON ONE SIDE OF SAID LONGITUDINAL CENTER, A SECOND STIRRUP RIGIDLY SECURED TO BOTH STRAPS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID LONGITUDINAL CENTER, EACH OF SAID STIRRUPS BEING SPACED FROM SAID LONGITUDINAL CENTER AND EXTENDING UNDER THE BOTTOM OF SAID ELONGATED STRUCTURAL MEMBER, A TUBULAR SLEEVE WELDED TO EACH SIDE OF EACH OF SAID STIRRUPS, THE LOWERMOST PORTION OF EACH OF SAID SLEEVES BEING FLUSH WITH THE BOTTOM OF SAID STIRRUPS, A SCREW EXTENDING THROUGH THE SLEEVES ON EACH SIDE OF SAID STIRRUPS, AND MEANS COOPERATING WITH EACH OF SAID SLEEVES TO MOVE SAID STIRRUPS LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID SCREWS TOWARD SAID LONGITUDINAL CENTER TO SHORTEN THE LONGITUDINAL DISTANCE BETWEEN THE INNER ENDS OF SAID STRAPS, SAID LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT OF SAID STIRRUPS BEING EFFECTIVE TO LIFT THE INNER ENDS OF SAID STRAPS AND THEREBY MOVE THE CENTRAL PORTION OF SAID ELONGATED STRUCTURAL MEMBER TOWARD A STRAIGHT LINE CONDITION. 